Best Dog Crate for Car Travel in 2019

It’s no secret that dogs love the open road as much as humans do. Some of them even more than humans since they have no responsibilities and can enjoy the ride and keep their head out the window. However, the entire activity can prove to be quite dangerous and that’s why you should consider buying the Best Dog Crate for Car Travel for your dog’s safety.

You always buckle up before a ride so why shouldn’t your dog do the same? Many owners decide to just let the pets roam free in the car and that can be a very dangerous decision for both the pet and the owner. Going for a pet carrier or, more specifically, dog carrier is a great idea if you’re constantly taking your dog with you on rides. Not only a dog travel crate will improve the safety of the entire trip but it will also make your pet a lot more comfortable during the ride.

Because there are a lot of different models available online, from dog travel bags to dog car harnesses, we’ve decided to take an in-depth look into the car safety products available for dogs. We’ve researched and even put to the test dozens of different dog car accessories and put everything together in this review for you to have all the info and make the best decision when shopping for the best dog car carrier.

Top 5 Best Dog Crates for Car Travel Compared and Reviewed

Before we go further by presenting you a series of what we believe to be the best dog crates for car travel, let’s first have a look at this comparison table. If you really have no idea of what you should buy for your dog, seeing all these custom dog crates for cars will definitely help in shaping up an idea of what you need for your pet.

So, the table above serves as an overview to better compare the dimensions limitations of each type of dog transportation devices. No matter if you’re going to get a dog cage for car or a car dog bed, we’re going to review all items in the table above, individually. Let’s find the best dog crate for car travel.

Best Small Dog Crate: AmazonBasics Soft-Sided Pet Travel Carrier

If you’re on the lookout for a small dog travel crate, the Amazon Basics model can deliver the results you’ve been waiting for. Not 100% a crate, however, for small dogs, you will see that this is clearly the superior option.

Whenever you want to take your furry companion on a ride to the shop or even on a holiday, the Amazon Basics soft-sided pet carrier is a perfect fit for small to medium dogs. This dog carrier crate comes with a fleece insert and pad, making your dog comfortable feeling a rigid surface under its paws.

Pros

Very light and easy to transport

High-quality materials and machine-wash ready fleece

Best dog crate for car travel for small dogs

Cons

It can only act as a dog crate for car backseat, no options for mounting it on the front seat. However, that’s the safest way for a car ride with your pet.

Best Airline Approved Crate: Sleepypod Atom In-Cabin Pet Carrier

The Sleepypod Atom is a dog carrier crate that is perfectly designed for small breeds like Bichon Frise or Chihuahuas. It is for dogs of up to 8 lbs and it managed to pass the CPS crash test with a very good score. The Atom carrier is airline approved as well and you can get it in a wide range of colors.
You can use it as a dog car seat cover since it comes with two straps one per left and right side. It also has an inner safety tether so the dog won’t run while you open the carrier.

h4>Pros

CPS certified and crash-tested

Comes with internal tether plus a ventilation on three of its sides

Has two straps for seat belts, making it perfect for the backseat

Cons

The choice of Velcro pockets instead of zippers can be unpleasant for some customers, however, it offers increased maneuverability.

Best Car Dog Bed: Sleepypod Pet Bed

If you’re on the lookout for a car dog bed, the Sleepypod Mobile Pet Bed is exactly the product you’re looking for. Like all other Sleepypod products, it passed the CPS certification and that’s a huge extra since you want the best dog crate for car travel to be safe and comfortable.

Manufactured with luggage-grade nylon, the mobile pet bed can easily withstand high forces and offer an increased level of protection for your four-legged friend. Not exactly a dog crate for car, the mobile pet bed is more like an oasis of relaxation for your dog while on a road trip.

Pros

Crash-tested and highly durable

Very comfortable for your dog

Washable bedding and easy-to-clean materials

Cons

The round shape may make it awkward to carry, however, it’s perfect in the car

Best Dog Crate for Car Travel: Gunner Kennels Intermediate Dog Crate

Those of you that are looking for a medium dog travel crate that offers the right level of protection during a car ride but is also comfortable for your pet at the same time have found their product. The Gunner Kennel provides the perfect method to secure dog in car and the best thing about it is that it can easily host medium to large dogs.This is a heavy-duty crate made with double-walled plastic and a wide base that has stainless steel tie downs inserted. This can also be the perfect solution if you’re shopping for an XL dog travel crate since it comes in big sizes as well.

Pros

Highly durable with double-walled plastic sides

Comes with a chew-proof door

The best dog crate for car travel: 5 stars in crash tests

Cons

Best Comfy Dog Crate: Sleepypod Air In-Cabin Pet Carrier

Having a similar design to the Atom, the Sleepypod Air is a collapsible travel dog crate that can host a dog of up to 18 lbs. It passed the CPS crash test with a total of 4 stars, however, it can be expected that a larger car crate will lose a bit of its safety.

Listening to the voice of the customers, Sleepypod decided to add zippers for the side pockets instead of the Velcro used in the Atom model. So, if you’re into lightweight dog travel devices, the Sleepypod Air might be a perfect choice and the best dog crate for car travel.

Pros

It has folding ends to easily store in the trunk or at home when not using it

Crash-tested, durable design

Very comfy interior

Zippers added to what already was one of the best dog crate for car travel

Cons

It may feel a little stiff when you buy it but that’s the sign of a good-quality dog cage for car.

As you may have expected, there are a whole lot of different designs when it comes to the best dog crate for car travel. No matter if you’re shopping for a dog car crate or you’re going for a travel kennel, you should first learn which are the main types of dog transportation devices for cars.

Metal Dog Cages and Crates

A metal dog car carrier is obviously sturdier and it will last longer if you manage to convince your dog to get inside. The wired sides allow you to still have contact with your dog and give it treats to help it deal with the anxiety a bit better. Even if it’s considered a great feature by many dog owners, the wired crates seem to be very bad in terms of safety. So, if you’re all about safety, you should go for a non-metal best dog crate for car travel.

Plastic Dog Crates

Considered by many to be the best dog car carriers ever invented, the plastic dog crate is the most spread model. It’s ergonomic and ideal for car and train journeys. A plastic crate can be light enough to carry around with ease but still durable and safe thanks to the heavy-duty plastic shell.

Soft Dog Crates

If you’re thinking about buying a soft travel dog crate, keep in mind that while these are space-saving and flexible, in terms of safety they don’t do so well either. While such a crate can be easily folded and put into place thanks to its durable mesh fabric on a steel frame, it does very little to protect your dog in case of an accident.

Dog Car Crate Buying Guide: Main Buying Considerations When Shopping for the Best Dog Crate for Car Travel

Things should already be a lot clearer by now, after seeing the comparison table and the detailed reviews of the safest dog crates for car. But the job is not done yet since you also need to apply all that knowledge to your situation.

1. Dog Size

You should always start by properly measuring your dog in order to know what exactly you are looking for. It can be a large dog travel crate or a lightweight dog crate travel device, depending on your dog’s size and weight.

2. Safety Connectors

Since you’re buying a travel crate to begin with, you’d want it to be the safest dog crate for car, right? Then you should take a good look at connectors and how it can be fitted in your car using the safety features already available.

3. Price

Price is and will always be a delicate subject. However, if you want the best dog crate for car travel, you can’t spare any expenses. It’s true that a high price isn’t always an indicator of quality, however, the Gunner Kennels is a very good example of what more money can buy.

Are There Any Other Options? Dog Car Crate Alternatives

As stated at the beginning of this article, there are a lot of alternatives available on the market. Either if you’re on the lookout for a large dog travel crate or a folding dog travel crate, they’re all out there waiting to be discovered.

K&H Pet Products Classy Go Soft Crate

Fold-a-Crate by 2Pet

Pet Gear Generation II Deluxe Portable Soft Crate

These are just a few examples of other travel carriers that are available out there but we stand by our choice that the models presented are the top options available on the market right now.

The Best Dog Crate for Car Travel – Final Advice

If you didn’t think that taking your dog with you on a car ride has so many implications, now you are fully aware of it. A high-quality dog crate can and will definitely make the difference in case of an accident and generally keep things a lot safer for you and your dog.

In order to choose the best possible travel crate for your dog, make sure that it is the best fit for its size and that you don’t choose a low price over quality. Always make sure the crate is CPS-approved and has a good score in crash tests.

Finally, if you’re still trying to decide what’s the best choice you can make, it’s already very clear for most dog owners. The Gunner Kennels Intermediate Dog Crate offers the highest level of protection, is the best fit for small dogs as well as large ones and it simply is the safest and most comfortable car crate you can buy, even though it is quite expensive.

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